Scores of farmers assembled at the Block office and met officials to highlight their demands.

Paddy crops over thousands of hectares have been damaged by cash worm varieties of pests.

The agitating farmers are demanding compensation, crop insurance benefits, and interest waiver on crop loans, among a host of other demands.

"These pests infest and destroy farms rapidly. We demand that the government should Farmers on hunger strike in India's eastern Kalahandi.supply insecticide and pesticide for free. Also, we demand compensation for the farmers, crop insurance benefits to those farmers who had insured their crop, interest waiver on crop loans and fresh loans (for ensuing spring harvest)," said Sudhansu Sekhar Panda, a farmer.

We will provide all the possible help to the affected farmers, said an official.

I just discussed their problems and whatever possible with us, we will do, definitely we will stand by the farmers," said Jagannath Mohanty, Sub-collector, Dharamgarh.

The farmers have warned that they will take extreme steps like suicide if their demands are not met. (ANI)